UNIVERSITY of Sydney researchers have published new studies explaining how a popular ancient remedy, the elderberry fruit, can help the fight against influenza.
The study showed that phytochemicals from elderberries can directly inhibit the virus' entry and replication in human cells, and can thereby help strengthen a person's immune response to the virus.
"It inhibits the early stages of an infection by blocking key viral proteins responsible for both the viral attachment and entry into the host cells," said co-author Dr Golnoosh Torabian.
Curiously, researchers found the phytochemicals were even more effective at inhibiting viral propagation at later stages of the influenza cycle when cells had already been infected.
Commonly consumed as a jam or wine and otherwise known as sambucus nigra, the elderberry is a small, antioxidant-rich fruit found in both Europe and North America.
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